Jessica Aber, the former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, was discovered dead at her residence on Saturday morning, sparking an ongoing investigation by local law enforcement. Aber, 43, was a Biden appointee who stepped down from her role in January as the Trump administration took office.
The Alexandria Police Department responded to a call reporting an unresponsive woman at Aber’s home shortly before 9:20 a.m. on Saturday. The circumstances surrounding Aber’s death are currently under investigation, with the official cause of death to be determined by the Virginia medical examiner’s office.
Aber’s death has sent shockwaves through the legal community. The current U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Erik Siebert, expressed his grief in a statement released on Saturday afternoon. He praised Aber’s leadership, mentorship, and prosecutorial skills, describing her as irreplaceable.
Aber’s career in the Eastern District of Virginia began in 2009 when she served as an assistant U.S. attorney. She later served as counsel to the assistant attorney general for the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice from 2015 to 2016. In 2021, Aber was nominated by President Biden for the high-profile position of U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, a nomination that was unanimously confirmed by the Senate.
Aber’s sudden death and the ongoing investigation have left many in the legal community and beyond in a state of shock and mourning. As the investigation continues, many are waiting for answers about the circumstances surrounding her untimely demise.